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wits were to issue out of one scull, they would fly east, west, north, south; and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points o'the compass.

2 Cit. Think you so? Which way, do you judge my wit would fly?

3 Cit. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will; 'tis strongly wedged up in a block-head: but if it were at liberty, 'twould, sure south ward.

2 Cit. Why that way?

3 Cit. To lose itself in a fog; where, being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return for conscience' sake, to help to get thee a wife.

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Enter two other CITIZENS.

Cor. Pray you now, if it may stand with t tune of your voices, that I may be consul, I ha here the customary gown.

3 Cit. You have deserved nobly of your co try, and you have not deserved nobly. Cor. Your enigma ?

3 Cit. You have been a scourge to her er mies, you have been a rod to her friends; y have not, indeed, loved the common people. Cor. You should account me the more tuous, that I have not been common in my lov

2 Cit. You are never without your tricks :—I will, Sir, flatter my sworn brother the peop You may, you may.

to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a co

3 Cit. Are you all resolved to give your voices?dition they account gentle and since the wisdo But that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I say, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man.

Enter CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS. Here he comes, and in the gown of humility; mark his behaviour. We are not to stay altogether, but to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and by threes. He's to make his requests by particulars: wherein every one of us has a single honour, in giving him our own voices with our own tongues: therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how you shall go by him.

All. Content, content.

of their choice is rather to have my hat than heart, I will practise the insinuating nod, a be off to them most counterfeitly: that is, Sir, will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popul man, and give it bountifully to the desirer Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul.

4 Cit. We hope to find you our friend; ar therefore give you our voices heartily. 3 Cit. You have received many wounds f your country.

Cor. I will not seal your knowledge with show ing them. I will make much of your voices, a so trouble you no further.

Both Cit. The gods give you joy, Sir, hea [Exeun

[Exeunt.tily! Men. O Sir, you are not right: have you not

known

The worthiest men have done it?

Cor. What must I say?

I pray, Sir,-Plague upon't! I cannot bring
My tongue to such a pace:—Look, Sir ;—
my wounds;-

I got them in my country's service, when
Some certain of your brethren roar'd, and ran
From the noise of our own drums.

Men. O me, the gods!

Cor. Most sweet voices !—
Better it is to die, better to starve,
Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.
Why in this woolvish gown should I stand here
To beg of Hob and Dick, that do appear,
Their needless vouches: Custom calls me to't :-
What custom wills, in all things should we do't
The dust on antique time would lie unswept,
And mountainous error be too highly heap'd
For truth to over-peer.-Rather than fool it so
Let the high office and the honour go.

You must not speak of that: you must desire them To one that would do thus.-I am half through To think upon you.

Cor. Think upon me? Hang 'em!

I would they would forget me, like the virtues
Which our divines lose by them.

Men. You'll mar all;

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Cor. No, Sir:

'Twas never my desire yet,

To trouble the poor with begging.

1 Cit. You must think, if we give you any We hope to gain by you.

[thing, Cor. Well then, I pray, your price o'the consulship?

1 Cit. The price is, Sir, to ask it kindly. Cor. Kindly?

Sir, I pray let me ha't: I have wounds to show you,

Which shall be yours in private.-Your good voice, Sir;

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The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.
Enter three other CITIZENS.

Here come more voices.

Your voices; for your voices I have fought;
Watch'd for your voices; for your voices, hear
Of wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice six,
I have seen and heard of; for your voices, bave
Done many things, soine less, some more: you
voices :

Indeed, I would be consul.

5 Cit. He has done nobly, and cannot go with out any honest man's voice,

6 Cit. Therefore let him be consul: The god give him joy, and make him good friend to th people!

All. Amen, Amen,—
God save thee, noble consul!

Cor. Worthy voices !

[Exeunt CITIZENS

Re-enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS and

SICINIUS.

Men. You have stood your limitation; and th
tribunes

Endue you with the people's voice: Remains,
That, in the official marks invested, you
Anon do meet the senate.
Cor. Is this done?

Sic. The custom of request you have dis
charg'd:

The people do admit you; and are summon'd
To meet anon, upon your approbation.

Cor. Where? at the senate-house?
Sic. There, Coriolanus.

Cor. May I then change these garments ↑
Sic. You may, Sir.

Cor. That I'll straight do; and, knowing my
self again,

Repair to the senate-house.

Men. I'll keep you company.-Will you along ? |
Brs. We stay here for the people.
Sic. Fare you well.

[Exeunt CORIOL. and MENEN.

He has it now; and by his looks, methinks,

'Tis warm at his heart.

Brs. With a proud heart he wore

1 Cit. I twice five hundred and their friends to piece 'em.

Bru. Get you hence instantly; and tell those
friends,-

They have chose a consul, that will from them take
Their liberties; make them of no more voice
Than dogs, that are as often beat for barking,

His bumble weeds: Will you dismiss the people? As therefore kept to do so.

Re-enter CITIZENS.

Sic. Let them assemble;

And, on a safer judgment, all revoke

Sic. How now, my masters? have you chose Your ignorant election: Enforce his pride,

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says

He us'd as scornfully: he should have show'd us
His marks of merit, wounds receiv'd for his
country.

Sic. Why, so he did, I am sure.
Cit. No; no man saw 'em. [Several speak.
3 Cit. He said he had wounds, which he could
show in private ;

And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,
I would be consul, says he aged custom,
But by your voices, will not so permit me;
Your moices therefore: When we granted that,
Here was,-I thank you for your voices,-thank
[your voices,
Your most sweet voices :-now you have left
I have no further with you :-Was not this
mckery 1

you,

Sie. Way, either you were ignorant to see't?
Or, seeing it, of such childish friendliness
To ved your voices?

And his old hate unto you: besides, forget not
With what contempt he wore the humble weed;
How in his suit he scorn'd you: but your loves,
Thinking upon his services, took from you
The apprehension of his present portance, t
Which, gibingly, ungravely he did fashion
After the inveterate hate he bears you.
Bru. Lay

A fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd
(No impediment between) but that you must
Cast your election on him.

Sic. Say, you chose him

More after our commandment, than as guided
By your own true affections: and that, your minds
Pre-occupied with what you rather must do
Than what you should, made you against the
grain

To voice him consul: Lay the fault on us.
Bru. Ay, spare us not. Say, we read lectures
to you,

How youngly he began to serve his country,
How long continued: and what stock he
springs of,
[came
The noble house o'the Marcians; from whence
That Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son,
Who, after great Hostilius, here was king:
Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,
That our best water brought by conduits hither;
And Censorinus, darling of the people,
And nobly nam'd so, being Censor twice,
Was his great ancestor.

Sic. One thus descended,

power,That hath beside well in his person wrought
To be set high in place, we did commend
To your remembrances: but you have found,
Scaling his present bearing with his past,
That he's your fixed enemy, and revoke
Your sudden approbation.

Eru. Could you not have told him,
As you were lesson'd,-When he had no
But was a petty servant to the state,
He was your enemy; ever spake against
Your liberties, and the charters that you bear
Ithe body of the weal: and now, arriving
A place of potency, and sway o'the state,
If he should salt malignantly remain
Fast for to the plebeii, your voices might
Be carses to yourselves? You should have said,
That, as his worthy deeds did claim no less
Tawht be stood for, so his gracious nature
Wuld think upou you for your voices, and
Transate his malice towards you into love,
Bug your friendly lord.

3. Thas to have said,

As were fore-advis'd, had tonch'd his spirit,
And red b.s inclination; from him pluck'd
Er bis gracions promise, which you might,
As cause bad call'd you up, have held him to;
Omar woeld have gall'd his surly nature,
canly endures not article

Tim 21m to angbt: so, putting him to rage,
1 sd have ta'en the advantage of his choler,
Ast paas'd him unelected.

Bru. Did you perceive,
Hedit you in free contempt,

* did need your loves; and do you think, That his contempt shall not be bruising to you, When he hath power to crush? Why, had your

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Bru. Say, you ne'er had don't,
(Harp on that still,) but by our putting on : §
And presently, when you have drawn your num-
Repair to the Capitol.

[ber,

Cit. We will so almost all [Several speak. Repent in their election. [Exeunt CITIZENS,

Bru. Let them go on:

This mutiny were better put in hazard,
Than stay, past doubt, for greater:

If, as his nature is, he fall in rage
With their refusal, both observe and answer
The vantage of his anger.

Sic. To the Capitol :

(ple;

Come; we'll be there before the stream o'the peo-
And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own
Which we have goaded ¶ onward. [Exeunt.

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Com. They are worn, lord consul, so, That we shall hardly in our ages see Their banners wave again.

Cor. Saw you Aufidius?

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Becomes not Rome; nor has Coriolanus
Deserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falsely t

Lart. On safe-guard⚫ he came to me; and 'the plain way of his merit.

did curse

Against the Volsces, for they had so vilely
Yielded the town: he is retir'd to Antium.

Cor. Spoke he of me?

Lart. He did, my lord.

Cor. How? what?

Cor. Tell me of corn!

This was my speech, and I will speak't again ;—
Men. Not now, not now.

1 Sen. Not in this heat, Sir, now.

Cor. Now, as I live, I will.-My noble friends, I crave their pardons :

Lart. How often he had met you, sword to For the mutable, rank-scented many, ‡ let them

sword:

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Bru. Not unlike,

Each way to better yours.

Regard me as I do not flatter, and

Therein behold themselves: I say again,

In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate
The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,
Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd and

scatter'd,

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O good but most unwise patricians, why,
You grave, but reckless I senators, have you thurs
Given Hydra bere to choose an officer,
That with his peremptory shall, being but
The born and noise o'the monsters, wants not

spirit

To say, he'll turn your current in a ditch,
And make your channel his? If he have power,
Then veil your ignorance: if none, awake
Your dangerous lenity. If you are learned,
Be not as common fools; if you are not,
Let them have cushions by you. You are ple-

beians,

If they be senators: and they are no less,
When both your voices blended, the greatest
[trate;

taste

Most palates theirs. They choose their magis-
And such a one as he, who puts his shall,
His popular shall, against a graver bench
Than ever frown'd in Greece By Jove himself,
It makes the consuls base: and my soul akes
To know, when two authorities are up,
Neither supreme, how soon confusion
May enter 'twixt the gap of both, and take

Cor. Why then should I be consul? By yon The one by the other.

clouds,

Let me deserve so ill as you, and make me
Your fellow-tribune.

Sic. You show too much of that,
For which the people stir: If you will pass

To where you are bound, you inust inquire your

way,

Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit;
Or never be so noble as a consul,

Nor yoke with him for tribune.

Men. Let's be calm.

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Cockle is a weed which grows up with corn.
Scab
The smallest fish.
fi According to law.
1: Thoughtless.

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the corn

Was not our recompence; resting well assur'd
They ac'et did service for❜t: Being press'd to

the war,

Even when the navel of the state was touch'd,
They would not thread the gates: this kind of

service

Did not deserve corn gratis: being i'the war,
Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'd
Most valour, spoke not for them: The accusa-

tion

Which they have often made against the senate,
Ail cause unborn, could never be the native +
Of our so frank donation. Well, what then?
How shall this bosom multiplied digest
The senate's courtesy? Let deeds express
What's like to be their words :-We did request
it;

We are the greater poll,† and in true fear
They gave us our demands:-Thus we debase
The nature of ear seats, and make the rabble
Call our cares, fears: which will in time break

ope

The locks o'the senate, and bring in the crows
To peck the eagles.—

Mea. Come, enough.

Bra. Enough, with over-measure.

Cer. No, take more :

other

What may be sworn by, both divine and human,
Sea what I end withal!-This double worship-
Where one part does disdain with cause, the
[wisdom
Inwalt without all reason; where gentry, title,
Cannot conclude, but by the yea and no
Of general ignorance,-It must omit
Real necessities, and give way the while
To sastale slightness: purpose so barr'd, it
follows

Nothing is done to purpose: Therefore, beseech

Yon that will be less fearful than discreet;
That love the fundamental part of state,
More than you doubt the change of't; that
prefer

A noble lite before a long, and wish
To pump a body with a dangerous physic
That's sure of death without it, at once pluck

The maititudinous tongue, let them not lick
The sweet which is their poison: your dishonour
Man true judgment, aud bereaves the state
O that ategrity which should become it;
$4 baving the power to do the good it would,
Be the ill which doth control it.

Ar. He bas said enough.

Sar. He has spoken like a traitor, and shall

answer

As bradors do.

Thon wretch! despite o'erwhelm thee What should the people do with these bald tribunes?

fs who depending, their obedience fails The greater bench: In a rebellion,

Wes what's not meet, but what must be, was
law,

Then were they chosen: in a better hour,
Let what is meet, be said it must be meet,
And throw their power i'the dust.

Bru. Manifest treason.

Ac. This a consul? no.

Era. The Ediles, ho!-Let him be appre

bended.

Se. Go, call the people; [Exit BRUTUS.] in whose name, myself

Atach thee, as a traitorous innovator,

A fue to the public weal: Obey, I charge thee,
And follow to thine answer.

Cer. Fience, old goat i

The natural pareut, or, the cause.
Fear.
To violently agitate.

Sen. & Pat. We'll surety him.

Com. Aged Sir, hands off.

Cor. Hence, rotten thing, or I shall shake thy
bones

Out of thy garments.

Sic. Help, ve citizens.

Re-enter BRUTUS, with the EDILES, and a
Rabble of CITIZENS.

Men. On both sides more respect.
Sic. Here's he, that would
Take from you all your power.
Bru. Seize him, Ediles.

Cit. Down with him, down with him!
[Several speak.

2 Sen. Weapons, weapons, weapons!
[They all bustle about CORIOLANUS.
Tribunes, patricians, citizens !-what ho!
Sicinius, Brutus, Coriolanus, citizens !
Cit. Peace, peace, peace; stay, hold, peace!
Men. What is about to be ?-1 am out of
[bunes
breath:
Confusion's near: I cannot speak :-You, tri-
To the people,-Coriolanus, patience :-
Speak, good Sicinius.

Sic. Hear me, people ;-Peace.
Cit. Let's hear our tribune :-Peace.
speak, speak.

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Cit. You so remain.

Men. And so are like to do.

Cor. That is the way to lay the city flat;
To bring the roof to the foundation;
And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges,;
In heaps and piles of ruins.

Sic. This deserves death.

Bru. Or let us stand to our authority,
Or let us lose it :-We do here pronounce,
Upon the part o'the people, in whose power
We were elected theirs, Marcius is worthy
Of present death.

Sic. Therefore, lay hold of him;
Bear him to the rock Tarpeian, and from thence
Into destruction cast him.

Bru. Ediles, seize him.
Cit. Yield, Marcius, yield.
Men. Hear me one word.

'Beseech you, tribunes, hear me but a word.
Edi. Peace, peace.

Men. Be that you seem, truly your country's
friend,

And temperately proceed to what you would
Thus violently redress.

Bru. Sir, those cold ways,
That seem like prudent helps, are very poisonous
Where the disease is violent :-Lay hands upon
[him,
And bear him to the rock.

Cor. No: I'll die here. [Drawing his Sword. [me. There's some among you have beheld me fighting;

Come, try upon yourselves what you have scen
Men. Down with that sword,-Tribunes, with-
draw a while.

Bru. Lay hands upon him.
Men. Help, Marcius! help,

You that be noble; help him, young and old!
Cit. Down with hin, down with him!
[In this Mutiny, the TRIBUNES, the ÆDILES,
and the People are all beat in.
[away,
Men. Go, get you to your house; be gone,
All will be naught else.
2 Sen. Get you gone.

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Cor. On fair ground,

I could beat forty of them.

Men. I could myself

Take up a brace of the best of them; yea, the two tribunes.

Com. But now 'tis odds beyond arithmetic; And manhood is call'd foolery, when it stands Against a falling fabric.-Will you hence, Before the tag return? whose rage doth rend Like interrupted waters, and o'erbear What they are used to bear.

Men. Pray you, be gone:

I'll try whether my old wit be in request With those that have but little this must be With cloth of any colour. [patch'd Com. Nay, come away. [Exeunt COR. Cox, and others. 1 Pat. This inan bas marr'd his fortune. Men. His nature is too noble for the world: He would not flatter Neptune for his trident, Or Jove for his power to thunder. His heart's his mouth : [vent; What his breast forges, that his tongue must And being angry, does forget that ever

He heard the name of death. [A noise within. Here's goodly work!

2 Pat. I would they were a-bed?

The which shall turn yon to no further harm, Than so much loss of time.

Sic. Speak briefly then;

For we are peremptory to despatch

This viperous traitor: to eject him hence,
Were but one danger; and, to keep him here,
Our certain death; therefore it is decreed,
He dies to-night.

Men. Now the good gods forbid
That our renowned Rome, whose gratitude
Towards her deserved children is enroll'd
In Jove's own book, like an unnatural dain
Should now eat up her own!

Sic. He's a disease, that must be cut away.
Men. Oh! he's a limb, that has but a disease
Mortal, to cut it off; to cure it, easy.
What has he done to Rome, that's worthy death
Killing our enemies? The blood he hath lost,
(Which, I dare vouch, is more than that he hath
By many an ounce,) he dropp'd it for his coun
And, what is left, to lose it by his country, [try
Were to us all, that do't, and suffer it,
A brand to the end o'the world.
Sic. This is clean kam. +

Bru. Merely awry: when he did love hi country, It honour'd him.

Men. The service of the foot,

Being once gangren'd, is not then respected
For what before it was ?

Bru. We'll hear no more :

Pursue him to his house, and pluck him thence; Lest his infection, being of catching nature, Spread further.

Men. One word more, one word. This tiger-footed rage, when it shall find The harm of unscann'd swiftness, wili, too late, Tie leaden pounds to his heels. Proceed by pro

cess;

Lest parties (as he is belov'd) break out, And sack great Rome with Romans.

Bru. If it were so,

Sic. What do ye talk?

Have we not had a taste of his obedience?

Men. I would they were in Tyber I-What, the Our Ediles smote ? ourselves resisted ?-Come :

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With modest warrant.

Sic. Sir, how comes it, that you

Have holp to make this rescue ?

Men. Hear me speak :

As I do know the consul's worthiness,

So can I name his faults:

Sic. Consul!-what consul?

Men. The consul Coriolanus.
Bru. He a consul!

Cit. No, no, no, no, no.

Men. If, by the tribunes' leave, and yours, good people,

I may be heard, I'd crave a word or two;

• The lowest of the populace, tag, rag, and bobtail. 1 Be sure on't. The signal for slaughter.

Or what is worst will follow. 1 Sen. Pray you, let's to him.

[Exeunt

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